Alaska Native Education Survey
IMPROVING
EDUCATION
OF ALASKA
NATIVE
CHILDREN
Respondents were asked about how education of Alaska Native children might be improved, and where the responsibility for education lies.
Best Ways to Improve the Quality of Education
"Parent involvement" and "better teachers" tied as the most popular suggestions for improving the quality of education for Alaska Native children.Clearly, Alaska Natives are interested in providing solutions to improve their schools. When asked to suggest the best ways to improve the quality of education for Alaska Native children, respondents gave more than 30 different suggestions. Because the responses were so varied, it is useful to group them according to subject, as seen in the second table below. It is interesting to note that while in a previous question about teacher quality, teachers were rated relatively favorably;yet Alaska Natives felt better teaching practices would provide the best arena for solutions.
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Parent involvement |
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Better teachers |
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More Native teachers |
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Native culture classes |
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Increased academic challenges |
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Communication with teachers |
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More money |
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Cultural studies improved |
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More tutors/counselors/mentors |
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Teachers that understand Native culture |
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Encourage learning |
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More subjects offered |
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More teachers |
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*Multiple responses allowed. |
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Teachers Better teachers, Native teachers, communication with teachers, more tutors/counselors/mentors, teachers that understand Native culture, more teachers, one-on-one teaching, specialized teachers, teachers that stay |
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Native Culture Native teachers, Native culture classes, teachers that understand Native culture, cultural studies improved |
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Curriculum Increased academic challenges, more subjects offered, teach basics, offer vocational/skill classes, transition programs (rural to urban), college prep classes, more practical life skills |
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Funding, Facilities, and Materials More money, smaller class sizes, better classes/books, more activities/sports, better buildings, boarding schools |
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Parent Involvement |
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Attitude Encourage learning, eliminate prejudice, increase discipline |
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*Multiple responses allowed. |
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Responsibility for Ensuring that Children Are Well-Educated
Alaska Natives place the responsibility for their children's education squarely on parents' shoulders.When asked who is responsible, eighty-five percent of all respondents said it was the parents' responsibility to make sure their children are well-educated. More than one answer was allowed, and teachers came in a distant second at 32 percent. It is worthy of note that while Alaska Natives overwhelmingly believe parents are responsible for making sure their children are well-educated, only 12 percent suggested parental involvement as a way to improve the quality of education.
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Parents |
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Teachers |
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School |
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Community |
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State |
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Child/Student |
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Family |
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*Multiple responses allowed. |
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Regional Boarding Schools
Alaska Natives tend to support regional boarding schools with over one half in favor of them. One out of five oppose boarding schools. Those who attended boarding schools are considerably more likely to favor them than those who did not. Rural respondents were more likely to support regional boarding high schools (65 percent were in favor, compared to 57 percent of urban respondents). However supportive of the concept, boarding schools are not seen as a single solution to improve the quality of the educational system. This solution ranked 28 th on the list of possible solutions with only 1 percent identifying boarding schools as a primary solution for improvement.
Return to the Alaska Native Household Education Survey
Return to the McDowell Final Report
Return to Alaska Native Knowledge Network